Forward: The Paulsboro Police Department understands the importance of community feedback and input. With that said, we dedicate this page in appreciation to our partnership with the Paulsboro Neighborhood Watch Association Inc.

Paulsboro Neighborhood Watch Association

“If you look at your neighborhood with a fresh eye and without prejudice and you see problems with which you are no longer willing to live, then you have reached a moment of choice. One choice is to leave. Another is to stay and try to tolerate the situation. Yet another choice is to say emphatically, ‘This is my home and I will make it a place where I am happy and proud to live’. Before you can choose, however, you must accept what is so.”

Taken from Taking Back Our Neighborhoods By Mary Wachter and Cynthia TinsleyWorking together, we will make a difference!

History of Neighborhood Watch Programs
In early 1972, the National Sheriffs Association developed a model program for today’s Neighborhood Watch or Crime Watch programs. At that time, Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs from around the country were requesting a program that would squelch the increasing burglary rate across the United States.

It was noted that communities able to obtain the assistance of their citizens in observing and reporting suspicious or criminal activities were able to keep the burglary rate down.

At that time, society increasingly became more mobile and faster paced. More households had both the husband and wife working so neighborhoods became deserted during the day. Neighbors stopped being concerned about their neighbors’ property and began keeping more to themselves. The unity and cohesion of the traditional neighborhood was gradually deteriorating.

Along with law enforcement officers, criminals recognized this trend and began to take advantage of this knowledge by moving in and out of neighborhoods without causing alarm or suspicion. Law enforcement agencies alone weren’t able to keep up with the alarming rise in burglaries as a result. The need for assistance in combating this crime was provided by National Sheriffs Association’s newly developed program.

Numerous communities adopted and implemented the proposed program with astounding success. The rate of specific crimes such as burglary decreased as much as 75%. In addition to a decline in the burglary rate, implementation of Neighborhood Watch programs also resulted in substantial reductions of other crimes as well.

Neighborhood Watch works because people want to assume a more active role in making their communities safe. It would be impractical to place a law enforcement officer into each neighborhood and very practical to utilize those who live there. Residents within a neighborhood know who belongs there and who doesn’t and what activity is suspicious. The most important reason neighborhood watch works is that citizens began working with, instead of relying on, law enforcement to combat crime in their community.

As the number of success stories about Neighborhood Watch increases, more and more communities have adopted the program. Thirty-four years have passed since Neighborhood Watch first began. It continues to evolve and expand to encompass more than just neighborhood concerns.

Other issues of concern to the community as a whole are addressed by Neighborhood Watch such as Drug Awareness, Business Crime Prevention, Personal Safety, First Aid, Health and Safety, Fire Prevention, City or County Planning, Street Repairing and Disaster Preparedness.

Watch programs have proven themselves to be effective not only in the fight against crime but to improve the well being of the entire community. What direction the community decides to take with the program is its only limitation.

Teaches citizens techniques to reduce the risk of being victimized at home and in public.

Trains citizens on the importance of recognizing suspicious activities and how to report them.

Teaches members how to make their homes more secure and properly identify their property.

Allows neighbors to get to know each other and their routines so that any out of place activity can be reported and investigated.

A cohesive body of concerned citizens addressing issues that concern the entire community.

What Neighborhood Watch IS NOT

A vigilante force working outside the normal procedures of law enforcement.

A program designed for members to take personal risks to prevent crime.

A 100% guarantee that crime will not occur in your neighborhood.

Benefits of Neighborhood Watch

A comprehensive Neighborhood Watch program in your neighborhood, whether it is a high crime area or not, will have many rewards to you and your family.

Neighborhood Watch programs are known to instill a greater sense of security, well-being, and reduce the fear of crime in your community as well as create a greater “sense of community” and put the neighbor back into neighborhood. Neighborhood Watch also brings law enforcement and the community together as a team to reduce crime in your area.

Some of the other benefits of Neighborhood Watch are:

Reducing the risk of being a crime victim – The risk is reduced because members are taught how to take preventive measures that substantially decrease the likelihood of becoming a crime victim. Law enforcement agencies report that not only does Neighborhood Watch reduce the risk of your home being burglarized, the instances of other crimes such as vandalism, personal assault, and fraud also decrease.

Being better prepared to respond to a suspicious activity – Part of the Neighborhood Watch program is training on how to report suspicious activities occurring in your neighborhood and what law enforcement officers need when a crime is being reported and why.

Greater access to criminal activity information - Neighborhood Watch programs are designed to keep members informed of crime trends and patterns so they will be better prepared to spot any crime activity and stop it in their neighborhood.

Receiving a Neighborhood Watch sign to post in your neighborhood – Criminals know that if a neighborhood has a neighborhood watch sign posted, that neighborhood is not an easy target. They have taken the necessary steps to deter crime in their neighborhood and are probably being observed. Convicted burglars have reported avoiding neighborhoods that have neighborhood watch signs posted.

Knowing your neighbors - Neighborhood Watch promotes getting to know your neighbors and their regular patterns so that each of you will be better able to report any activity that does not fit with regular schedules. This means that when you are away, you can feel more secure about your property. This also instills more sense of Community and puts the neighbor back into neighborhood.

Reducing the fear of crime and making your neighborhood more livable - Neighborhood Watch increase the number of arrests and convictions by serving as a network for law enforcement and the community to communicate effectively about crime activities in their community.

Allowing other issues of concern to the community as a whole to be addressed – Once crime has been addressed, and the fear of crime has been reduced, Neighborhood Watch members can move on to address other issues that concern the community as a whole. These issues can include fire prevention, first aid, city/county planning or whatever the group feels a need to address.

Participating Activities & Anti-crime efforts

A. Street Patrols – members reaching out to their fellow neighbors to: 1) discuss crime related problems existing in their neighborhoods and potential ways to address and report them and 2) address their concerns regarding quality of life issues (i.e. absentee landlords).

B. Gloucester County Prosecutor Partnership – periodic meetings with the prosecutor’s office and various community leaders to address concerns within the borough and ways to resolve them.

D. PNW Street Signs – posting of Neighborhood Watch signs alerting residents and visitors to the community that a neighborhood watch program is in force.

E. Community Newsletter – to alert residents of recent crime trends within the borough and what they may need to protect themselves from becoming victims.

Community Awareness / Involvement

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT – co-sponsorship with the Paulsboro Police Department to provide anti-crime information and resources to borough residents.

Paulsboro Day – providing anti-crime information and community resources to borough residents.

Fourth of July Parade – providing group awareness within the community.

Back to School Nights – providing group awareness within the community.

Community Betterment

Student Recognition Day – recognizing selected elementary school students who exemplify community spirit and outstanding character. The Neighborhood Watch presents a certificate of recognition and monetary reward of $25 in appreciation of their efforts.

PAULSBORO HIGH SCHOOL Scholarship - $500 scholarship given to a Paulsboro graduate who has volunteered in the community and who plans on pursing a law enforcement or criminal justice career.